Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Levels are Associated with Vascular Smooth Muscle Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes.

AIM: Increased level of serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a hallmark of abnormal phosphate metabolism in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is recently shown to be associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease even in those without CKD. This study investigated the association between serum FGF23 levels and vascular function in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 283 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and nitroglycerin-mediated dilatation (NMD) of the brachial artery were measured via ultrasonography to evaluate vascular endothelial and smooth muscle functions, respectively. Serum intact FGF23 levels were determined via a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The median values of FMD, NMD, and serum FGF23 were 6.0%, 14.0%, and 27.3 pg/mL, respectively. The serum FGF23 levels were inversely associated with NMD but not with FMD, and the association was independent of atherosclerotic risk factors, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and serum phosphate levels. Furthermore, the relationship between serum FGF23 levels and NMD was modified by kidney function, which was pronounced in subjects with normal kidney function (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). CONCLUSION: Serum FGF23 levels are independently and inversely associated with NMD in patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly in those with normal kidney function. Our results indicate that FGF23 is involved in vascular smooth muscle dysfunction and that increased serum levels of FGF23 may serve as a novel biomarker for vascular smooth muscle dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Seronegative Full-house Nephropathy with Crohn's Disease.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease. Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major risk factor for mortality in SLE, and glomerular "full-house" immunofluorescence staining is a well-known characteristic of LN. However, some cases of non-lupus glomerulonephritis can also present with a "full-house" immunofluorescence pattern. We recently encountered a patient with full-house nephropathy (FHN) during adalimumab administration for Crohn's disease. IgA nephropathy or idiopathic FHN was diagnosed, and treatment with steroids was started, after which there was improvement in proteinuria. The prognosis of FHN has been reported to be poor; therefore, aggressive treatment is required for such patients.

New-onset Type 1 Diabetes after COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination.

During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is critical to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. We herein report a 51-year-old Japanese woman who developed acute-onset type 1 diabetes with diabetic ketoacidosis six weeks after receiving the first dose of a COVID-19 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine. Laboratory tests indicated exhaustion of endogenous insulin secretion, a positive result for insulin autoantibody, and latent thyroid autoimmunity. Human leukocyte antigen typing was homozygous for DRB1*09:01-DQB1*03:03 haplotypes. This case suggests that COVID-19 vaccination can induce type 1 diabetes in some individuals with a genetic predisposition.

New-onset fulminant type 1 diabetes after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination: A case report.

Fulminant type 1 diabetes is characterized by a rapid progression of insulin deficiency triggered by viral infection. Here, we report a case of a 45-year-old Japanese woman with fulminant type 1 diabetes that developed 8 days after receiving messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. She had been healthy and had no symptoms suggestive of viral infection before the vaccination. Laboratory tests showed exhaustion of insulin secretion and negative results for islet autoantibodies. Human leukocyte antigen genotype analysis showed the DRB1*04:05 and DQB1*04:01 alleles. This is the first case report of new-onset fulminant type 1 diabetes after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination, and suggests that a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine might trigger the onset of fulminant type 1 diabetes in susceptible individuals. However, a causal relationship remains to be identified, and further studies are required to determine the incidence of such cases.

Role of adiponectin in the relationship between visceral adiposity and fibroblast growth factor 23 in non-diabetic men with normal kidney function.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a key regulator of phosphate metabolism. Circulating FGF23 levels are associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease in the general population, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to determine the associations between serum FGF23 levels and visceral adiposity as well as serum adiponectin levels in 189 adults without diabetes and with normal kidney function who were selected from the MedCity21 health examination registry. The exclusion criteria included diabetes mellitus or impaired kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Levels of serum FGF23 and total adiponectin, and visceral fat area (VFA) on computed tomography images were measured. Serum FGF23 levels were higher and VFA was greater, whereas serum adiponectin levels were lower in men than in women. Serum FGF23 levels positively correlated with VFA in men; they remained marginally significant after adjusting for age, eGFR, and serum levels of calcium, phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Importantly, when serum adiponectin levels were included as a covariate, serum adiponectin levels comprised an independent determinant of serum FGF23 levels in men, whereas VFA did not. In conclusion, lower serum adiponectin, rather than a greater VFA, was associated with higher serum FGF23 levels in non-diabetic men with normal kidney function. These findings suggest that adiponectin plays a role in the relationship between visceral adiposity and FGF23 in men.